Sixer is a generic term for boards with 6 fins, it is not a specific design. Having six fin boxes, allows the board to be ridden as sixer, quad, twinzer-style, or twin.
Read MoreBoarders Mag Issue #3 - Editors Pick: Top 3 Favorite Photos
Be sure and get on our subscription list this week to receive issue number 3!
Read MoreFirst Wake Surf Event of 2014: Synthetic Swell
Synthetic Swell is the first wake surfing event of the year and is being held in sunny SoCal. The festival will take place on February 22nd & 23rd 2014. The first day will be fresh water at Lake Elsinore on the 22nd and the second day on the salty waters of Mission Bay in San Diego on the 23rd.
This is not your average wake surf event and is going to be an awesome 2014 kick off shred party with fun contest like "wake surfing in the best outfit" said event coordinator Marco Thompson. This is not a competition but more of a shred sesh/demo day/festival that you can bring your own boat to if you want to show off your wave. There will be BBQ lunch and dinner with fellow ripper and anyone is welcome from first time to pro. Here is some info you might want to know about the contest:
- Bring your boat, and try out the wake behind other boats
- If you don't have a boat, bring your boards and surf with us
- Bring all your boards to share, and try out boards you have not ridden before
- Bring your wetsuit if you have one, if you don't, we have several to loan, and we have some dry suits available also
- Bring some friends that have never surfed, get them surfing, expert teaching is free
- Bring the family, this is designed to be a 100% family friendly event
- RV friendly locations
- This is NOT a money making exercise, the organizers are doing this at their own expense, with no event income please bring money to help out with gas.. boats don't run on thank you's.
- On Sunday, there will be some giveaway / goodies for every attendee, courtesy of Wakesports & our other sponsors
The schedule for this awesome event is as follows:
Saturday February 22, 2014 at Lake Elsinore
- Fresh water Day 1
- 7:00 AM - Sun-Up First boats on the water
- 8:00 AM -10:00 AM Sesh 1
- 10:00 AM - noon Sesh 2
- noon - 1:00 PM Pot Luck BBQ on the beach
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Sesh 3
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Sesh 4
- 5PM - Pot Luck BBQ on the beach
Sunday, February 23, 2014 at Mission Bay
- Salt water Day 2
- 7:00 AM - Sun-Up First boats on the water
- 8:00 AM -10:00 AM Sesh 5
- 10:00 AM - noon Sesh 6 - Wild Ride
- noon - Pot Luck BBQ on the beach
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Sesh 7 - Wild Ride
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Sesh 8
- 5:00 PM - Pot Luck BBQ on the beach
- 6:00 PM - Awards & Contest Results
Get registered today as spots are limited and to find out more about the event visit www.SynSwell.com
Whitewater SUP Pioneer: Morgan Mason | Rider Profile
Morgan Mason hails from a small cattle farm in Kansas. Shortly after graduating high school he left for Iraq to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the Army Reserves. Upon his return from the overseas tour, Morgan moved to Colorado in order to pursue new adventures in the mountains. He spent his first summer guiding whitewater rafting trips down Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River. This experience spawned in him a new addiction to the thrill of navigating whitewater rapids. Since then Morgan has helped pioneer stand up paddling in the Rocky Mountain region while working for Boardworks SUP, Badfish SUP and Rocky Mountain Paddleboard. When he’s not going down river you can find him surfing the breaks of southern California or Mexico.
Sponsors:
Favorite SUP Spots:
- Colorado: Durango, Buena Vista, Salida, Glenwood Springs
- Jackson Wyoming
- and lots of various spots in Baja
Board of Choice:
- Either Badfish 6'11" River Surfer or Badfish 9'0 MVP w/ Sharkskin
Paddle of Choice:
- Boardworks two piece adjustable for convenience
- Werner makes a strong river paddle
SUP Accomplishments:
- Assisted in Pioneering SUP in the Rockies with Boardworks & Badfish SUP.
- Organized or assisted in over 20 SUP events
- ACA SUP Instructor
Mason Morgan: Durango, CO
To keep up with Morgan's adventures check out his blog: www.vanmandog.com
Tige Boats Announces 2014 Endless Wave Tour Dates
Be a part of the surf revolution this summer and join us again this summer for the ultimate surf series -- Tige’s 2014 Endless Wave Tour.
The Endless Wave Tour is being planned across North America driving fun-filled events throughout the summer bringing families together and providing healthy competition. Surfing Tige’s ocean-like surf wave behind the best surf boat in the industry, the Z3 equipped with Tigé’s patented Convex VX. Come see the Coanda Effect in action! It is the best surf competition of the summer, so mark your calendars for these upcoming stops and follow the Endless Wave Tour Facebook to stay connected with the latest news.
EWT Stop #1 – 5/28 – 6/1 West Coast Wakesurf Open, California
EWT Stop #2 – 6/19 – 22 WWS Shred Fest, Colorado
EWT Stop #3 – 7/17 – 7/20 Wake the Desert, Texas
EWT Stop #4 – 8/22 – 8/24 Texas Surf Showdown, Texas
EWT Stop #5 and #6 is planned for August and September, locations to be determined
Each stop will have scheduled professional surf clinics and two days of surfing competition.
If your company is interested to sponsor the series contact us at 325.676.7777 or email info@tige.com
Photos from 2013 Endless Wave Tour by TradeMarek Photogreaphy.
Interchangable Arch Bar & Flat Pad - Inland Surfer - Press Release
Inland Surfer, the most innovative wake surfboard manufacturer does it again with factory-direct, interchangeable arch bar and flat pads. Redesigned for 2014 Inland Surfer has all new decks in the Classic Series and Ultralight Series. New boards will ship with a flat deck insert as well as pro-pad raised arch bar.
Constructed of high quality EVA foam shaped into Inland Surfers signature diamond grooved pattern the inserts measure in at 7cm by 36cm. The raised arch bar measures with a domed 5mm standard arch. For any riders with a skimboard background these arch bar inserts are going to make you feel right home with Inland Surfer’s latest wake surf technology.
The entire 2014 lineup will have available flat decks or raised arch bars excluding the Tako and Keenan Surf Pro Model. Now you can customize your board to your preference and continue to evolve as a better surfer.
VP of Inland Surfer, Lance Connor
Inland Surfer, the World’s largest independent wake surfboard manufacturer and the first wake surf company has a board for every shape, style, size and skill of surfer. With the biggest board selection in company history and all-new graphics, decks to complement the already industry leading shapes and performance. Leading the lineup, the Inland Surfer Flyboy Division boasts the James Walker Pro and the James Walker Big Boy; the most popular wake surfboards in 2013. The ever affordable Tako, Inlands premier value surfboard introduced in 2013 brings professional wake surfing to the masses with its exclusive performance over price offering.
For more info visit: www.inlandsurfer.com
Wakesurfing Dominates the Boat Shows
Waterskiing to wakeboarding and now the sport of wakesurfing is in full bloom and popularity and all you have to do is go to a boat show to see the influence of the sport on every boat manufacturer. Let the competition begin, which boat is the best surf boat? Which inboard boat has the biggest wave? What are some new wake surf technologies on the market?
Read MoreRemember Snurfer? It's coming back!
Remember Snurfer? In the late 1960′s and 70′s sledding in the backyard took on a whole new life – standing up! The original binding-less snow surfing boards were born. Snurfer was literally the first snowboard brought to market and with it came countless weekend hours, after school get togethers and family smiles rediscovering what makes a powder day so special!
Arguably, Snurfer gave birth to a whole new category of winter sports – snowboarding. After the original product was developed, numerous innovations in technology, product design and function have created a massive industry which encourages the purchase of expensive gear and lift tickets.
Enter Snurfer 2014.
Like the original, Snurfer is a low-tech, wooden, made in the USA, option perfect for play in your own backyard, offered at an affordable price! All you need is snow and Snurf’s the word. They are set to release Fall 2014. To learn more visit: snurferboards.com and visit their Facebook.com/SnurferBoards
Minnesota Wakesurf Championship on Lake Minnetonka!
The Minnesota Wakesurf Championship will be the first organized wakesurfing competition on Lake Minnetonka. We have all been waiting to combine the best parts of Lake Minnetonka which is the biggest, baddest, and craziest lake with the best watersport out there Wakesurfing!
Come out July 18th & 19th, 2014 and see some wakesurfing – via boat or land and also enjoy a beach full of activity. During the weekend of the MNWSC, the annual Spirit of the Lakes Festival will be occurring at Surfside Beach. Some of the Spirit of the Lakes Events include: live bands, a great variety of food/drink, fireworks, whiskey tasting, chartered boat tours of the lake, and more! This is sure to be an awesome weekend bringing wakesurfing to a large audience by working in conjunction with the Spirit of the Lakes festival! Stay up to date on the event by following it on Instagram @MNWSC, Twitter @MNWSC, and Facebook.com/MNWSC also visit the website www.MNWSC.com.
New TSR Paddle by Sawyer Paddles
There are a couple companies out there with home made products right here in the US. Sawyer Paddles is one of them. American made and hand crafted canoe and oar paddles since 1967 and now a focus on paddles for the fastest growing watersport in the world. All of the SUP paddles are designed in house and the chief designer just happens to be the owner of the company. Zac Kauffman tells us that "most of our designs come mainly out of trial and error, but with many paddlers in the company it's quite simpler to design, build and test."
What's new for Sawyer is a focus on racing and after picking up new team rider Mo Freitas they have definitely starting to make a name for themselves in the SUP world. There racing paddles are the best of both worlds really, a mixture of wood and carbon fiber for both power and longevity, not to mention lightness and the prestine look of wood itself. Sawyer paddles is the definition for craftsmanship in the paddle industry.
The TSR is there product of choice for overall performance as well as racing featuring a carbon fiber blade with laminated Western Red Cedar and an edging similar to ABS called Dynel Toughedge. It also features an oval carbon shaft and an ultralight wooden grip. What is unique and different than other paddles is the angle of the blade itself. While the industry standard seems to be around 10 degrees +/- 2, Sawyer has gone with a 7 degree flat blade design. "The seven degree bend came primarily from our canoeing background" says Zac. "We wanted to keep the angle slight for a smooth catch and release on each paddle stroke."
Be sure to check out Sawyer at paddlesandoars.com for more info.
Mo Freitas at Typhoon Lagoon in Orlando.
Capturing Great Lakes with Beth Price
Beth Price has found her passion in the cold and windy months on Lake Michigan. Bundled up in warm winter gear and even a wetsuit Beth ventures into rare and uncharted photographic territory and what started out as a personal project has now turned into an inland surf masterpiece. Her work is chilling and her pictures are inspiring and revealing. Be sure to check out more from her website: bethpricephotography.com.
How long have you been shooting sports photography?
I never really shot sports photography until recently. What happened was the great beauty and meaning I find in the natural landscapes around me merged with my outdoor, active lifestyle and my career as a photographer. I am in awe when I witness a serious athlete surrounded by a stunning, natural backdrop. To me, it’s an art form. The challenge is then for me to understand the sport enough so I may accurately translate the artistic edge with the technical.
When I look through some of my first surf photographs, although aesthetically pleasing, they wouldn’t wow a surfer. It’s taken time for me to learn what components make a good surf photograph which is why I held off at first in sharing my images. I wanted to build a portfolio I was proud of and that the surf community would embrace.
Photo: Beth Price
How and when did you get into SUP/surf photography?
It began as a personal project. I was questioning the direction of my career and needed an outlet. An artist friend challenged me to pick up my camera for and shoot as if I’d never make any money from what I photographed. Then one day I heard that people were surfing on Lake Michigan so I decided to investigate and that’s when I realized that I had found my personal project.
I’ve become rather obsessed with fresh water surfing. It took awhile for me to feel confident enough to share my work for a variety of reasons. Mainly I wasn’t sure if I wanted to turn my personal project into part of my career. When I realized I did want this, I had to learn what truly makes an exceptional surf photograph - one that’s portfolio-worthy and that I wanted to share.
Recently my work has been gaining more attention. One of the first emails of encouragement I received was from a surfer. All it said was “Awesome PICS Beth!!! Keep shooting!!!” I sat at my computer, had a good cry, then typed back, “Thank you!! I will.”
Photo: Beth Price
What kind of camera do you use and how do you keep warm?
My main camera system is Canon. I use a 5D Mark III and a variety of L series lenses. Sharpness is critical to me so I’ve invested in my glass. I also recently invested in a Liquid Eye water housing system.
When shooting from shore I keep warm because I know how to layer. It’s a serious matter to me because when I’m cold, I’m useless. I’m pretty loyal to the Patagonia brand. I have an entire layering system built mainly around their clothing and I’m not being paid to say this nor am I being given free product, although I wish I were!
In the water I’m grateful for the two wetsuits that were given to me. Neither one is warm enough for winter conditions so I’m saving up and doing my research. I’d love to be able to jump in the water any month of the year.
As far as surfing in the great lakes goes or big lake surfing how do you plan your shoots for last minute surf?
It’s tough when the surf is last minute. Often times I am able to rearrange my schedule but sometimes I simply do not make the surf if I’m committed to something else. I joke that I may lose my day job over this, but in all seriousness, I am in the process of figuring out how to make this a greater part of my day job. I try to plan as much in advance as possible by researching the weather and communicating with a circle of contacts I’ve made. These new friends are reliable and I am extremely grateful to have gained their trust and expertise.
Photo: Beth Price
From your perspective, how have these sports grown? Do you see more and more people getting into wetsuits in the winter?
In just a few years I’ve seen a good deal of growth in this community so I can only imagine what other photographers have seen. My friend Loukas talks about an epic wind summer in the 90’s. Typically there isn’t much wind around here in July and August, but that summer Loukas and his friend Blake surfed up and down the Lake Michigan coast and were pretty much the only ones out there. It makes me drool thinking about it.
Currently a windy day in the spring and fall months (or a rare windy day in July or August) means the water is filled with people surfing, SUPing and kiteboarding, meanwhile the shoreline is full of beachgoers and swimmers. It can become crowded so it’s important on these days to be especially aware of your surroundings and to be extra cautious. Once the snow flies, it’s a ghost town. Last December there was a day when there were two surfers in the water and myself on shore. It was worth it. The conditions were magical!
Can you tell us something interesting about your experiences and/or connection to the lake surfing world. Have you tried it out?
First off, I cannot say enough about our surfing community on the Great Lakes. My new friends are kind and encouraging and have embraced the fact that I’m out there trying to take the most meaningful photos that I can.
I may have gone about it backwards. I first began photographing surfing and now I’m learning to surf. Although I own a custom shaped board (Fresh Surfboards/Loukas Berthea), I don’t take it out often. If I’m out there I want to be shooting versus surfing.
When I’m at the ocean, that’s when I surf. I don’t have as much desire to shoot saltwater surfing. I like my fresh water niche and in general feel more comfortable in fresh water. Last winter I traveled to Playa Grande in Costa Rica to learn more and to practice and this winter I’ll be in El Paredon, Guatemala for a few days sharpening my surfing skills.
Paddleboard "Jeep Pull" with LakeSet Fitness
Nate Richard, paddle pioneer/fitness innovator/founder of LakeSet Fitness, has discovered a new training technique that will take your SUP strength and power to the next level.
After years of training and competing Nate has discovered that peak performance can only be obtained when adrenaline is at its max, when the body is shocked and a life or death situation is on the line. On Sunday January 26 on Lake Grapevine, TX a life or death situation was on the line. The situation: a Jeep stuck deep in the mud and slowly sinking to its demise. But after years of training Nate was prepared for the worst and quickly grabbed some rope and his custom 404 racer, attached one end to the front of the Jeep and the other to his waist and tried to save the Jeep’s life. In doing so he was unsuccessful, but while he failed to save the Jeep he succeeded in discovering another new workout program to add to his lineup. “I’ve never had to use every ounce of my strength like this before. One week later I am still sore,” says Nate. Nate went on to tell us that he is excited about implementing his new and innovative “Jeep-Pull” into summer class program at LakeSet Fitness with DFW Surf on lakes throughout N. Texas.
As far as building muscle goes probably the most important aspect is muscle confusion, or mixing up your normal workout by trying something new. This could be the amount of weight or reps, but more importantly a completely different exercise and Nate’s new and patented Jeep-Pull is the definition of muscle confusion for paddleboarding. Nate also informed us that, “If you are not ready for the Jeep-Pull you can try attaching some weights to your board leash or throw some bricks in a backpack.” Even before that he recommends trying out his ropes course and land pully training before moving to the water. The science behind the new system is moving less with more (weight). Why paddle or run six miles when you can work hard for just one?
SUPAA - By Boarders for Boarders w/ Chase Kosterlitz
By boarders for boarders is SUP racer Chase Kosterlitz; an athlete with team Fanatic/Quickblade, currently ranked #10 in the world (supracer.com) and also a pioneer for the sport as one of the founders and board of directors of SUPAA- The Stand Up Paddle Athletes Association. SUPAA is a new sanctioned body that is very rare in any sport, one founded and run by athletes of the sport and Chase was happy to be a part of Boarders Mag and tell us more.
So what exactly is the SUPAA?
Established in September 2013, the Stand Up Paddle Athletes Association is an international governing body for stand up paddle boarding. With cooperation from athletes, race directors, sponsors and stand up paddle boarding constituent groups, we will establish standards for stand up paddle board racing rules and execution.
Who runs SUPAA?
Our Board of Directors and Advisory Board members are the most experienced and accomplished stand up paddle athletes and individuals in the world. The Board of Directors oversees all functions and decisions with the input of our Advisory Board and SUPAA members.
What is the purpose of SUPAA?
SUPAA was formed to help give direction to the growth of stand up paddle boarding in a positive and sustainable manner. Global race regulations for rules, safety, course distances, board specs and prize money are important to continuing stand up paddle board growth. Youth development and access programs will also be implemented to help grow the sport. Through our programs we will work to ensure the highest level of excellence in stand up paddling.
What are the goals of the SUPAA?
- Implement the SUPAA Rulebook to standardize stand up paddle board racing rules.
- Certify and educate SUPAA race officials to help implement race rules.
- Coordinate board restrictions with stand up paddle board manufacturers to ensure stand up paddle boarding remains fun and inclusive for all participants.
- Organize the scheduling of stand up paddle events in order to create the most value for event organizers, athletes and sponsors.
- Cooperate with athletes, event organizers, sponsors and all constituent groups to ensure our efforts our effectively carried out.
- Create youth development programs to provide new opportunities for access and growth of the sport.
How is SUPAA different from other organizations?
Our Board of Directors and Advisory Board are comprised of the most experienced and accomplished stand up paddle athletes and individuals in the world. SUPAA is a worldwide organization with representatives on 5 continents. The SUPAA Rulebook is the most comprehensive set of rules ever created for stand up paddling. With the input of race directors and athletes we will work to make these the unified rules of stand up paddling. We have created a strong and unique position to cooperate with manufactures, race directors and media to set a unified path of positive growth in stand up paddling.
Why create another SUP organization?
There are many great stand up paddle organizations throughout the world working to promote the sport. However, we felt there was a need for a truly global organization to unify the rules and interests of all stand up paddle constituent groups. This is why The Stand Up Paddle Athletes Association was formed.
SUPAA is not affiliated with, or working directly alongside any existing stand up paddle organizations. We will cooperate with all existing entities and encourage them to adopt the SUPAA Rulebook and work with us. You can visit the SUPAA “How We Are Different” page for more info.
Is SUPAA sanctioning SUP races?
We will not officially sanction any SUPAA events until 2015. We will however, encourage race officials around the world to adopt the SUPAA Rulebook and implement it as their events in 2014. Through the feedback we receive from race officials and athletes we will work to refine the rules. In 2014 we will certify SUPAA Race Officials so that in 2015 these officials can manage SUPAA sanctioned events.
In 2015 we will sanction the first official SUPAA stand up paddle events. This 1-year process ensures a high standard of excellence for SUPAA stand up paddle events. We encourage you to adopt the SUPAA rules in 2014 and ask for a free race management consultation from SUPAA. We will help you with your questions and provide support to make your stand up paddle race a success.
Why should I join SUPAA?
Your SUPAA membership will help us institute SUPAA programs and regulations that will help the sport continue positive and inclusive growth. You will join a passionate community of paddlers from around the world to share ideas, information and your love of the sport.
What do I get when I join the SUPAA?
SUPAA member benefits include exclusive paddle tips and training information from the world’s top paddlers, travel discounts with United Airlines, amazing offers and discounts from our SUPAA partners and Paddle Coach program, monthly e-news updates, SUPAA board decal and the knowledge that you will be helping to support programs that will ensure the positive growth of stand up paddle boarding worldwide.
Chase went on to tell us that, “The reception from race officials has been great. They understand there is a need for what we are doing and they look forward to working with us. We have already been approached by race directors across the North America, South America, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, UK and France to work with us and adopt our rules. We have already written a comprehensive 22-page rulebook for 2014. This year we will encourage race organizers to adopt the rules and provide feedback. We have an international reach and will take all of the feedback to refine the rules to make them even better for 2015. By reaching out to race directors, athletes and the industry we will work together to establish a unified rulebook.”
To learn more about SUPAA visit http://supathletes.com
SUP Yoga Teacher Training Retreat in Maui with Dashama
For the last decade Dashama has spent her time traveling the world teaching people healthy lifestyle and meditation through her yoga classes and retreats worldwide. She developed Pranashama Yoga & The Prasha Method, a yoga style and life transformation system designed to help you strengthen and balance your body and clear any blocks to accessing your highest potential in life. She is also an innovator and pioneer for stand up paddle boarding and its fusion of yoga, or SUP Yoga, which is now one of the biggest parts of the SUP industry.
SUP Yoga class
This year her SUP Yoga Teacher Training Retreat will be at Lumeria in Maui on March 4-7. Students who attend can get certified as a SUP Yoga (Yoga Boarding) Instructor and also earn up to 30 hours of CEUs (Yoga Alliance approved) for attending.
Accommodations are available for single or double rooms, classes will be daily including healthy meals, smoothies and elixirs along with a special dolphin and whale watching/ swimming excursion.
Price is $1500 for double room occupancy and $1950 for single room.
To learn more & sign up for the retreat visit: www.pranashama.com/hawaii
Rider Profile: Koko Janphut
Koko Janphut
Nationality: Thai
Hometown: Marseille, France
Sponsors:
Papy Team
GlissAttitude ProShop
Wakesurfboardshop.
Years wakesurfing: 5 years
Likes: wakesurfing , surfing , snowboarding , My sponsors , my family and my friends
Dislikes: skateboarding , shopping , dancing , running
Favorite lake: Annecy lake , Leman lake and Etang de berre
Favorite trick: Airs, Air grab, Air double grab, Air 180, Super man, Bigspin, 360, 720, Air 360.
Biggest accomplishments: When I met Dominic Lagace in 2010 for the first time at the GVA Wakesurf Tour on Leman Lake, When I met Chris Wolter and Scott in Thailand at the Kalika Wakesurf Cup 2013, and when I started wakesurfing for the first time.
Freshwater Surfers take on year end swells at Stoney Point
What might be even more of a surprise to people than people surfing in Minnesota is people surfing when the nations colds front came through this year and the windchill is -51 degrees.
Will Wall surfing at Stoney Point, Lake Superior. Photo by Burton Hathaway
Right before the end of the 2013 winter storms swept the Midwest creating great conditions for freshwater waves on Lake Superior. Burton Hathaway and around ten other fresh water shredders saw this as a great opportunity. Stoney Point, Minnesota, according to Hathaway is “the Mecca of Great Lakes surfing” Because Lake Superior (the deepest of the Great Lakes) holds its heat the longest, the water temperature was a pleasant "36 to 38 degrees," even as the windchill was -51 degrees.
Burton Hathaway after surfing at Stoney Point on Lake Superior in sub-zero conditions. Photo by Erik Wilkie
Burton grew up surfing in Southern California and moved to Wisconsin eight years ago. Despite being landlocked Hathaway continue to pursue his surfing passion no matter his location or weather. Driving seven hours from Wiscounsin to Stoney Point, MN just two days before the New Year to catch some freezing swells. Before surfing he has to cover his face with Vaseline to prevent frostbite and told GrindTV the toughest part is having to wait until all the ice melts off of your wetsuit to change out of it. Waiting for the ice to melt from the car heaters can take up to 30 minutes but if you don’t wait “you’ll rip your wetsuit trying to get out of it.”
Freshwater surfing, he told Surfline, is "a total different experience." Surfers have to use thicker, wider boards since the freshwater isn't as buoyant as the ocean, making floating a bit more difficult. "You feel like you're surfing in slow motion on some of these waves," Hathaway said.
Stoney Point break Photo by: WIll Wall
"In the back of your mind," he told GrindTV, "you know you can die surfing in these very harsh and unforgiving conditions, but we live for surfing out here on the Great Lakes, and that is our passion."
Changing the Game - Nuke Optics
Enter Nuke Optics, who has developed the world’s first Modular Eyewear Design System for sunglasses. Built around the world’s first completely screwless hinge, Nuke VENOM allows full interchangeability and cross compatibility between lenses, frames and side arms (a.k.a. “temples”), regardless of shape, size, design, color or application.
This revolutionary “build-your-own” system is currently available on NukeOptics.com and gives users access to five different frames (v2, v4, v41, v6, and v8), four types of lenses and three different temples (v, turbo, and samurai) so they can create over one million combinations!
Samy, Nuke Optics founder states that “VENOM is the world’s first fully customizable single modular system designed for eyewear that has the possibility to work on so many different levels and change the way the eyewear industry has operated for decades. If a component of your eyewear breaks, you can replace that specific part and don’t need to buy a whole new pair. What’s great is that you can upgrade to new parts when you feel like it, or when we release something new. By manufacturing parts to be cross-compatible, we are able to create something new, while keeping the cost low and pass those savings to you.”
Check out there recent video here: http://youtu.be/U5z09PkJ75U
Go with the Flow: Moomba Boats Flow Surf Surf System
Photo: Drew Tinker Rider: Trevor Hansen
Another option for surf-boat buyers at an affordable price is the Moomba Flow Surf System, the first manual surf system on the market. We wanted to learn more so we contacted Moomba Product Manager Matt Brown who is responsible for leading the team that develops all the Moomba products. We were happy to find out that Matt has been wakesurfing for years; you can even see him in action in the movie "Scrubs of the South" riding an eight-foot foam surfboard back before most people had even heard of wakesurfing.
So Matt, why did Moomba create its surf system design?
Moomba created the Flow surf system because we saw a demand from the market for something that would allow us to quickly go from wakeboarding to wakesurfing, without filling and draining bags or adding a ton of extra weight to one side only. While we understand that some consumers in the market are “hardcore” surfers and they may want to add thousands of pounds to one side only to get a perfectly shaped wake, we felt the majority of our buyers like to do all wake sports and we wanted to make something that was quick and easy to use, had great performance, that was extremely reliable, yet still reasonably priced. We know it may not be the perfect system for every buyer, but we felt like we needed something that had broad appeal that wasn’t complicated to use or had to be perfectly positioned to work properly.
What exactly is the design and how does it differ from other designs on the market?
The design is fairly simple. We did a lot of testing and developed a rotating plate that deploys on the transom corners and allows the opposite side wake to shape according to the position of the plate. There are several differences in our design and the others. The first is our design is the first manual surf system. All the others are actuated with an electric or hydraulic ram. While there are several great systems out there, we didn’t want to add the cost of the electronics or actuators to control our system. Plus, without electronics, that makes the system more reliable and actually easier to use. Some companies controls are quite complicated, and if not used properly, can actually hurt the performance of the system. Another difference is our system is adjustable and can be adjusted according to how you want to weight your boat. If you want to just use factory ballast and a few people, then the first location is probably the best. However, if you want to slightly offset your weight or add more rear ballast, then you can shape the wake slightly different or lengthen the wake by using the second or third location. We feel like this gives us even more broad appeal because we know all of our consumers use their boats differently.
What is the engineering process behind the design?
As to the engineering process behind the design, I am not going to lie and say that we did a bunch of CAD development or flow analysis to come up with the perfect design. It, like I assume most other systems out there, was mainly a trial and error process. We have known for years that wakesurfing was going to change some of our designs. We actually have been working on Surf systems for several years, but getting the right “Moomba” solution took us a little longer, but we think it was worth the wait.
It looks like your surf system design in the first manual one on the market, so what is the benefit of having a manual surf design?
I would say there are 3 main benefits of having a manual surf design. One is lower cost. The second is reliability because you are not having to deal with electronics that can go bad with time. And third is ease of use. Since you manually have to move it, you know exactly what the system is doing and where it is. Some can say that electronic actuated systems are also easy to use, but if you are not familiar with the system or dash components, electronic systems can be complicated to know exactly what is deployed or working or what side is doing what. With our system, anyone can drive without having to fear that the driver might “screw up” the wake by the surf system controls.
How about the surf performance with the new design?
Honestly, everyone claims their surf performance is the best and obviously we are very excited about our performance. But what we recommend is to go check out a local dealer and demo it for yourself. We feel like with the Flow system, you can easily create a good clean surfable wake by just filling all factory ballast and deploying the opposite side plate to the second position. However, the system doesn’t stop there. If you spend a little time with it, you will find that you can tweak the wake to how you like it by adding weight, or slightly offsetting weight side to side or front to back, and by trying different plate positions. In our testing, we feel like we have one of the most flexible, easy to use systems out there that is not overly sensitive to fine tuning adjustments. And did I mention it is very reasonably priced?
To learn more or find a dealer near you visit: www.moomba.com
Nocqua Adventure Gear lights up the night for paddlers
Great article on GizMag.com about one of the coolest SUP products - Nocqua Adventure Gear’s SUP lights.
Stand-up paddleboarding has been one of the fastest growing outdoor sports in recent years. It's been growing so fast that even general interest publications like Time Magazine and The Wall Street Journal have taken notice. New start-up outfit Nocqua believes it has a way to make paddleboarding even more fun and popular, empowering paddlers to get out in the dead of night.
Part of what's fueled paddleboarding's popularity is that it's not as location-dependent as its close cousin surfing. Thanks to its integral propulsion (paddle) and large, stable board, paddleboarding can be enjoyed inland on lakes, reservoirs and rivers.
Nocqua formed earlier this year with the intent of unshackling paddleboarding, along with kayaking and canoeing, from time constraints. Its 2000 LED lighting system provides ample lighting for paddling under the star-spattered night sky. No longer will paddleboarders feel compelled to pack it up when the sun sets...
Read the entire article here
Find a retailer near you www.nocqua.com
Rider Profile: Korina Smyrek
Photo: Tina Anger
Korina Smyrek - Pro wake surfer
Nationality: Swiss
Hometown: Zurich, Switzerland
Sponsors:
Likes: Travis Rice, Freestyler, Formula 1, traveling, cheese, electro music, art, 007, Nirvana
Dislikes: Traffic jams, pollution of the ocean, snakes, busy places, ginger
Favorite lakes: Switzerland: lake Zurich, lake Obersee, lake Walensee
USA: lake Oroville/ CA, Austin river/ TX, lake Willow/ CO
Favorite Wakesurf Tricks: 720, 360, Switch FS 360, Air 180, FS 180, FS 180 to 540, airs, airs with grabs variations, switch and backside riding etc.
Biggest Accomplishments: 2nd and 3rd at the World Wakesurfing Championships, 3x Chill & Ride, 2x Wakesurf Festival, King of the Lake, 3x Oneill Wakesurf Tour, Hurley Come & Ride, Wake and Jam, West Coast Wakesurf Open USA
Interesting Facts: She is a wakesurf Ambassador for GummiLove. GummiLove is an AIDS prevention campaign who is doing workshops, discussions rounds, charity events, exhibitions, etc. with young people to bring more awareness to this very sensitive topic in combination with sports.
2014 New Year’s Resolution:
1. Winning the World Championships for Pro Women Surf
2. Visiting European water sports schools to present wakesurfing
3. Towing a jumbo tail fin for "Bury the Jumbo" on lake Zurich
Photo: Tina Anger
The awesome photos are courtesy of Tina Anger. Thank you Tina!